Tour of Sicily 2023

11am: Pick up Piazza Giulio Cesare, Palermo Centrale Railway Station Once we’ve picked everyone up at the station, we’ll transfer by car to our Agriturismo outside Roccamena. After ‘check-in’ is complete, we will have a picnic on the ‘Terrazza’ while we complete bike set up, etc. After lunch we’ll head out for a 45k ride, to spin the legs out, and ease the travel stiffness while checking all equipment.

Leaving Ponte Calatrasi we have a solid inland route to Agrigento on the coast, where the road cycling world championships were held in 1994. More recently, in 2008, the Giro d’Italia finished a stage here, after starting in Cefalu. There are seven small peaks to cover today, and as we get closer to Agrigento, the roads get bigger, wider and faster, so stopping before Agrigento is recommended. We’ll stop for coffee in Corleone, and a picnic in Santo Stefano. Sweep point will be Raffadali.

In a historic town it is a good opportunity to stay put, allowing more time to soak up Agrigento, with a scenic loop for the riders out to the west. Our host may take anyone who’s interested on a walking tour of Agrigento, and its churches, if we can talk him into it. Later in the afternoon we may find time to wander the little cobbled streets of Agrigento, or maybe head off to visit the ‘Valley of Temples’, where seven monumental Greek temples in the Doric style were constructed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Now excavated and partially restored, they constitute some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself. (They are listed as a World Heritage Site) Dinner tonight, we’ll stroll the streets to an Enoteca for a pre-dinner drink, dinner at a local ristorante.

Today we’ve got a 75k ride in front of us, so we’ll transport out of Agrigento to Delia. From here we’ll take the scenic inland route, through Sommatino, Riesi, stopping for a picnic lunch in Mazzarino before the afternoon’s final 25k into San Michele di Ganzaria. At San Michele we will rack the bikes and drive into Caltagirone

We’re headed to Milazzo, and while today has been a rest day in the past, there’s a few other choices for us, and many different routes to get to Milazzo. More than likely we’ll drive to either Randazzo or Savoca (where the rural bar scenes from the Godfather were filmed in the 70’s) and if the riders are keen we’ll ride the final 70-80k over the range and along the coast into town, and our hotel on the port.

We’ll be up early for breakfast, before taking the 7am ferry to Lipari. Arriving at 9, we’ll drive to our accommodation in central Lipari, check in, and start to check out Lipari town. There is a good road on Lipari, and it makes a fine 25k loop. Now while this may not sound like much, in Topbike’s well travelled opinion, it is the best 25k loop in the world. So it'll be up to you to do as many laps as you wish, before dinner. NB: There really is only one road on the Island, so if you do get lost, it will only be a short matter of time before you find yourself again. 500m of ascent per lap here, too. Probably not too bad an idea to knock off by lunch time, to squeeze in a meal in town, a little exploratory walk, some time at the beach, or even a siesta!

Lipari (Sicilian: Lìpari, Latin: Lipara, Ancient Greek: Meligunis) is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and the name of the island's main town. It has a permanent population of 11,231; during the May–September tourist season, its population may reach up to 20,000.

Many, many options today. More laps of Lipari, a rest day, take a ferry to the active volcano island of Stromboli, day on the beach or by the hotel pool? Lunch overlooking the beach of Canneto, just a few kilometres from Lipari? The agony of choice. The only appointment today will be dinner time… downtown Lipari, seaside.

Our ferry back to the mainland of Sicily departs at 6.30am (TBC), so after an early start and quick breakfast, we’ll be down to the porto and onto our ferry, for a two hour cruise back to Milazzo. Once on the mainland we’ll continue driving along the coast, maybe launching the bikes from a good café, once we’re under 105k to go, to Cefalù. As long as we keep the water to our right, we’ll run into Cefalù. Views, of the Mediterranean, all day long.

Cefalù is a city and comune in the province of Palermo, located on the northern coast of Sicily, Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea about 70 km east from the provincial capital and 185 km west of Messina. The town, with its population of just under 15,000, is one of the major tourist attractions in the region. Despite its size, every year it attracts millions of tourists from all parts of Sicily and also, from all over Italy and Europe. In summer the population can triple, making the main streets and major roads in the country crowded. There is then a youthful atmosphere and a lively nightlife.

Arrivederci!.

After breakfast it's time to pack up the bikes and farewell all your mates. From Cefalu there is a train to either Palermo or Catania. This tour includes the following:

• 9 days, 8 nights: all breakfast, dinners and accommodation.
• Ground transport in the Topbike air-conditioned van - back up vehicle on every ride (except the ‘Lipari loop’)
• Railway Station pick up and drop off in the Topbike A/C van
• Bars and drink supplements
• Topbike Cycling kit
• Topbike’s experienced guides and mechanical support.
• Topbike poetry and great dinner conversation
• (See Topbike Tours Inclusions)

NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time.